About

The story More than Grit was almost lost. My grandma never told me her story until she was 85, fading. Since my life has centered around stories and writing, my heart needed to write this adventure.

As a newspaper journalist, reporting news dried my soul, but I thrived writing feature stories. I sought ordinary people whose lives showed there is no such thing as ordinary. I interviewed a mechanic whose free hours were spent in dialysis, but his positive outlook impacted others. I wrapped a young couple’s love story into words. While engaged, the bride-to-be suffered severe brain trauma in a car accident, but her fiance insisted they marry and handle her disabilities together.

For many years, I delighted in sharing words with students. Throughout a teaching career of journalism, English, and Spanish, I stressed students learn the beauty and power of words. Words start wars, and words can heal.

Besides writing and teaching, I’ve had opportunities to speak to women’s groups, retreats, and workshops. My favorite topic has been Ordinary Influence. 

Back to Grandma’s story: Life and busyness interfered with writing this book, More than Grit, until my husband surprised me. No, he shocked me. He finagled a way to send me to  a tiny remote island off Kodiak, Alaska. This involved flying in a bush plane and whisking across icy cold bays in a fishing skiff. I spent a week with author Leslie Leyland Fields, Dr. Paul Willis from Westmont college, and an inspiring group of writers. I began to write Grandma’s story.

You  are kind to read this About Me page. Please contact me. I’d love to hear your story.

gretchencarlsonwriter@gmail.com